Correlating network traffic that crosses opaque endpoints

ABSTRACT

Embodiments are directed to monitoring network traffic using network monitoring computers (NMCs). Two or more network segments coupled by bridge devices may be monitored by NMCs. The bridge devices may modify network traffic passed from one network segment to another network segment. Flows in network segments may be determined based on monitored network traffic associated with the network segments. Other flows in other network segments may be determined based on other monitored network traffic associated with the other network segments. A correlation score for two or more flows in different network segments may be provided based on a correlation model. Two or more related flows may be determined based on a value of the correlation score of the two or more related flows located in different network segments. A report that includes information about the two or more related flows may be provided.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This Utility patent application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/532,275 filed on Aug. 5, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,742,530 issued on Aug. 11, 2020, the benefit of which is claimed under 35 U.S.C. § 120, and the contents of which is further incorporated in entirety by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to network monitoring, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to monitoring networks in a distributed network monitoring environment.

BACKGROUND

On most computer networks, bits of data arranged in bytes are packaged into collections of bytes called packets. These packets are generally communicated between computing devices over networks in a wired or wireless manner. A suite of communication protocols is typically employed to communicate between at least two endpoints over one or more networks. The protocols are typically layered on top of one another to form a protocol stack. One model for a network communication protocol stack is the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model, which defines seven layers of different protocols that cooperatively enable communication over a network. The OSI model layers are arranged in the following order: Physical (1), Data Link (2), Network (3), Transport (4), Session (5), Presentation (6), and Application (7).

Another model for a network communication protocol stack is the Internet Protocol (IP) model, which is also known as the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) model. The TCP/IP model is similar to the OSI model except that it defines four layers instead of seven. The TCP/IP model's four layers for network communication protocol are arranged in the following order: Link (1), Internet (2), Transport (3), and Application (4). To reduce the number of layers from seven to four, the TCP/IP model collapses the OSI model's Application, Presentation, and Session layers into its Application layer. Also, the OSI's Physical layer is either assumed or is collapsed into the TCP/IP model's Link layer. Although some communication protocols may be listed at different numbered or named layers of the TCP/IP model versus the OSI model, both of these models describe stacks that include basically the same protocols. For example, the TCP protocol is listed on the fourth layer of the OSI model and on the third layer of the TCP/IP model. To assess and troubleshoot communicated packets and protocols over a network, different types of network monitors can be employed. One type of network monitor, a “packet sniffer” may be employed to generally monitor and record packets of data as they are communicated over a network. Some packet sniffers can display data included in each packet and provide statistics regarding a monitored stream of packets. Also, some types of network monitors are referred to as “protocol analyzers” in part because they can provide additional analysis of monitored and recorded packets regarding a type of network, communication protocol, or application.

Generally, packet sniffers and protocol analyzers passively monitor network traffic without participating in the communication protocols. In some instances, they receive a copy of each packet on a particular network segment or VLAN from one or more members of the network segment. They may receive these packet copies through a port mirror on a managed Ethernet switch, e.g., a Switched Port Analyzer (SPAN) port, a Roving Analysis Port (RAP), or the like, or combinations thereof. Port mirroring enables analysis and debugging of network communications. Port mirroring can be performed for inbound or outbound traffic (or both) on single or multiple interfaces. In other instances, packet copies may be provided to the network monitors from a specialized network tap or from a software entity running on the client or server. In virtual environments, port mirroring may be performed on a virtual switch that is incorporated within the hypervisor.

In complex networks, monitoring network traffic may be pass through one or more endpoints or services that modify some or all of the network traffic deliberately or by design. These modifications may interfere with monitory activity occurring in the monitored networks. Thus, it is with respect to these considerations and others that the present invention has been made.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present innovations are described with reference to the following drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various figures unless otherwise specified. For a better understanding of the described innovations, reference will be made to the following Detailed Description of Various Embodiments, which is to be read in association with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a system environment in which various embodiments may be implemented;

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic embodiment of a client computer;

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic embodiment of a network computer;

FIG. 4 illustrates a logical architecture of a system for correlating network traffic that crosses opaque endpoints in accordance with one or more of the various embodiments;

FIG. 5 illustrates a logical schematic of a system for correlating network traffic that crosses opaque endpoints in accordance with one or more of the various embodiments;

FIG. 6 illustrates a logical schematic of a system for correlating network traffic that crosses opaque endpoints in accordance with one or more of the various embodiments;

FIG. 7 illustrates a logical schematic of a system for correlating network traffic that crosses opaque endpoints in accordance with one or more of the various embodiments;

FIG. 8 illustrates a logical schematic of a system for correlating network traffic that crosses opaque endpoints in accordance with one or more of the various embodiments;

FIG. 9 illustrates a logical schematic of a portion of an NMC for using NMCs to correlate network traffic that crosses opaque endpoints in accordance with one or more of the various embodiments;

FIG. 10 illustrates an overview flowchart of a process for correlating network traffic that crosses opaque endpoints in accordance with one or more of the various embodiments;

FIG. 11 illustrates a flowchart of a process for correlating network traffic that crosses opaque endpoints in accordance with one or more of the various embodiments;

FIG. 12 illustrates a flowchart of a process for correlating flows based on injected fingerprint information in accordance with one or more of the various embodiments;

FIG. 13 illustrates a flowchart of a process for correlating flows based on injected timing patterns in accordance with one or more of the various embodiments;

FIG. 14 illustrates a flowchart of a process for correlating control flows with related content flows in accordance with one or more of the various embodiments; and

FIG. 15 illustrates a flowchart of a process for correlating control flows with based on transaction information in accordance with one or more of the various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

Various embodiments now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and which show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments by which the invention may be practiced. The embodiments may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the embodiments to those skilled in the art. Among other things, the various embodiments may be methods, systems, media or devices. Accordingly, the various embodiments may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

Throughout the specification and claims, the following terms take the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The phrase “in one embodiment” as used herein does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, though it may. Furthermore, the phrase “in another embodiment” as used herein does not necessarily refer to a different embodiment, although it may. Thus, as described below, various embodiments may be readily combined, without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

In addition, as used herein, the term “or” is an inclusive “or” operator, and is equivalent to the term “and/or,” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The term “based on” is not exclusive and allows for being based on additional factors not described, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In addition, throughout the specification, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references. The meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on.”

For example embodiments, the following terms are also used herein according to the corresponding meaning, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

As used herein the term, “engine” refers to logic embodied in hardware or software instructions, which can be written in a programming language, such as C, C++, Objective-C, COBOL, Java™, PHP, Perl, Python, R, Julia, JavaScript, Ruby, VBScript, Microsoft.NET™ languages such as C#, or the like. An engine may be compiled into executable programs or written in interpreted programming languages. Software engines may be callable from other engines or from themselves. Engines described herein refer to one or more logical modules that can be merged with other engines or applications, or can be divided into sub-engines. The engines can be stored in non-transitory computer-readable medium or computer storage device and be stored on and executed by one or more general purpose computers, thus creating a special purpose computer configured to provide the engine.

As used herein, the term “session” refers to a semi-permanent interactive packet interchange between two or more communicating endpoints, such as network devices. A session is set up or established at a certain point in time, and torn down at a later point in time. An established communication session may involve more than one message in each direction. A session may have stateful communication where at least one of the communicating network devices saves information about the session history to be able to communicate. A session may also provide stateless communication, where the communication consists of independent requests with responses between the endpoints. An established session is the basic requirement to perform a connection-oriented communication. A session also is the basic step to transmit in connectionless communication modes.

As used herein, the terms “network connection,” and “connection” refer to communication sessions with a semi-permanent connection for interactive packet interchange between two or more communicating endpoints, such as network devices. The connection may be established before application data is transferred, and where a stream of data is delivered in the same or different order than it was sent. The alternative to connection-oriented transmission is connectionless communication. For example, the datagram mode of communication used by the Internet Protocol (IP) and the Universal Datagram Protocol (UDP) may deliver packets out of order, since different packets may be routed independently and could be delivered over different paths. Packets associated with a TCP protocol connection may also be routed independently and could be delivered over different paths. However, for TCP connections the network communication system may provide the packets to application endpoints in the correct order.

Connection-oriented communication may be a packet-mode virtual circuit connection. For example, a transport layer virtual circuit protocol such as the TCP protocol can deliver packets of data in order although the lower layer switching is connectionless. A connection-oriented transport layer protocol such as TCP can also provide connection-oriented communications over connectionless communication. For example, if TCP is based on a connectionless network layer protocol (such as IP), this TCP/IP protocol can then achieve in-order delivery of a byte stream of data, by means of segment sequence numbering on the sender side, packet buffering and data packet reordering on the receiver side. Alternatively, the virtual circuit connection may be established in a datalink layer or network layer switching mode, where all data packets belonging to the same traffic stream are delivered over the same path, and traffic flows are identified by some connection identifier rather than by complete routing information, which enables fast hardware based switching.

As used herein, the terms “session flow” and “network flow” refer to one or more network packets or a stream of network packets that are communicated in a session that is established between at least two endpoints, such as two network devices. In one or more of the various embodiments, flows may be useful if one or more of the endpoints of a session may be behind a network traffic management device, such as a firewall, switch, router, load balancer, or the like. In one or more of the various embodiments, such flows may be used to ensure that the packets sent between the endpoints of a flow may be routed appropriately.

Typically, establishing a TCP based connection between endpoints begins with the execution of an initialization protocol and creates a single bi-directional flow between two endpoints, e.g., one direction of flow going from endpoint A to endpoint B, the other direction of the flow going from endpoint B to endpoint A, where each endpoint is at least identified by an IP address and a TCP port.

Also, some protocols or network applications may establish a separate flow for control information that enables management of at least one or more flows between two or more endpoints. Further, in some embodiments, network flows may be half-flows that may be unidirectional.

As used herein, the term “tuple” refers to a set of values that identify a source and destination of a network packet, which may, under some circumstances, be a part of a network connection. In one embodiment, a tuple may include a source Internet Protocol (IP) address, a destination IP address, a source port number, a destination port number, virtual LAN segment identifier (VLAN ID), tunnel identifier, routing interface identifier, physical interface identifier, or a protocol identifier. Tuples may be used to identify network flows (e.g., connection flows).

As used herein the term “related flows,” or “related network flows” as used herein are network flows that while separate they are operating cooperatively. For example, some protocols, such as, FTP, SIP, RTP, VOIP, custom protocols, or the like, may provide control communication over one network flow and data communication over other network flows. Further, configuration rules may define one or more criteria that are used to recognize that two or more network flows should be considered related flows. For example, configuration rules may define that flows containing a particular field value should be grouped with other flows having the same field value, such as, a cookie value, or the like. In cases, related flows may be flows in different networks or network segments that may be associated the same user, application, client computer, source, destination, or the like.

As used herein, the terms “network monitor”, “network monitoring computer”, or “NMC” refer to an application (software, hardware, or some combination) that is arranged to monitor and record flows of packets in a session that are communicated between at least two endpoints over at least one network. The NMC can provide information for assessing different aspects of these monitored flows. In one or more embodiments, the NMC may passively monitor network packet traffic without participating in the communication protocols. This monitoring may be performed for a variety of reasons, including troubleshooting and proactive remediation, anomaly detection, end-user experience monitoring, SLA monitoring, capacity planning, application lifecycle management, infrastructure change management, infrastructure optimization, business intelligence, security, and regulatory compliance. The NMC can receive network communication for monitoring through a variety of means including network taps, wireless receivers, port mirrors or directed tunnels from network switches, clients or servers including the endpoints themselves, or other infrastructure devices. In at least some of the various embodiments, the NMC may receive a copy of each packet on a particular network segment or virtual local area network (VLAN). Also, for at least some of the various embodiments, they may receive these packet copies through a port mirror on a managed Ethernet switch, e.g., a Switched Port Analyzer (SPAN) port, a Roving Analysis Port (RAP), or the like, or combination thereof. Port mirroring enables analysis and debugging of network communications. Port mirroring can be performed for inbound or outbound traffic (or both) on single or multiple interfaces.

The NMC may track network connections from and to end points such as a client or a server. The NMC may also extract information from the packets including protocol information at various layers of the communication protocol stack. The NMC may reassemble or reconstruct the stream of data exchanged between the endpoints. The NMC may perform decryption of the payload at various layers of the protocol stack. The NMC may passively monitor the network traffic or it may participate in the protocols as a proxy. The NMC may attempt to classify the network traffic according to communication protocols that are used.

The NMC may also perform one or more actions for classifying protocols that may be a necessary precondition for application classification. While some protocols run on well-known ports, others do not. Thus, even if there is traffic on a well-known port, it is not necessarily the protocol generally understood to be assigned to that port. As a result, the NMC may perform protocol classification using one or more techniques, such as, signature matching, statistical analysis, traffic analysis, and other heuristics. In some cases, the NMC may use adaptive protocol classification techniques where information used to classify the protocols may be accumulated or applied over time to further classify the observed protocols. In some embodiments, NMCs may be arranged to employ stateful analysis. Accordingly, for each supported protocols, an NMC may use network packet payload data to drive a state machine that mimics the protocol state changes in the client/server flows being monitored. The NMC may categorize the traffic where categories might include file transfers, streaming audio, streaming video, database access, interactive, gaming, and the like. The NMC may attempt to determine whether the traffic corresponds to known communications protocols, such as HTTP, FTP, SMTP, RTP, TDS, TCP, IP, and the like.

In addition, in one or more of the various embodiments, NMCs or NMC functionality may be implemented using hardware or software based proxy devices that may be arranged to intercept network traffic in the monitored networks rather than being restricted to passive (pass through) monitoring.

As used herein, the terms “layer” and “model layer” refer to a layer of one or more communication protocols in a stack of communication protocol layers that are defined by a model, such as the OSI model and the TCP/IP (IP) model. The OSI model defines seven layers and the TCP/IP model defines four layers of communication protocols.

For example, at the OSI model's lowest or first layer (Physical), streams of electrical/light/radio impulses (bits) are communicated between computing devices over some type of media, such as cables, network interface cards, radio wave transmitters, and the like. At the next or second layer (Data Link), bits are encoded into packets and packets are also decoded into bits. The Data Link layer also has two sub-layers, the Media Access Control (MAC) sub-layer and the Logical Link Control (LLC) sub-layer. The MAC sub-layer controls how a computing device gains access to the data and permission to transmit it. The LLC sub-layer controls frame synchronization, flow control and error checking. At the third layer (Network), logical paths are created, known as virtual circuits, to communicated data from node to node. Routing, forwarding, addressing, internetworking, error handling, congestion control, and packet sequencing are functions of the Network layer. At the fourth layer (Transport), transparent transfer of data between end computing devices, or hosts, is provided. The Transport layer is responsible for end to end recovery and flow control to ensure complete data transfer over the network.

At the fifth layer (Session) of the OSI model, connections between applications are established, managed, and terminated. The Session layer sets up, coordinates, and terminates conversations, exchanges, and dialogues between applications at each end of a connection. At the sixth layer (Presentation), independence from differences in data representation, e.g., encryption, is provided by translating from application to network format and vice versa. Generally, the Presentation layer transforms data into the form that the protocols at the Application layer (7) can accept. For example, the Presentation layer generally handles the formatting and encrypting/decrypting of data that is communicated across a network.

At the top or seventh layer (Application) of the OSI model, application and end user processes are supported. For example, communication partners may be identified, quality of service can be identified, user authentication and privacy may be considered, and constraints on data syntax can be identified. Generally, the Application layer provides services for file transfer, messaging, and displaying data. Protocols at the Application layer include FTP, HTTP, and Telnet.

To reduce the number of layers from seven to four, the TCP/IP model collapses the OSI model's Application, Presentation, and Session layers into its Application layer. Also, the OSI's Physical layer is either assumed or may be collapsed into the TCP/IP model's Link layer. Although some communication protocols may be listed at different numbered or named layers of the TCP/IP model versus the OSI model, both of these models describe stacks that include basically the same protocols.

As used herein, the term “entity” refers to an actor in the monitored network. Entities may include applications, services, programs, processes, network devices, network computers, client computers, or the like, operating in the monitored network. For example, individual entities may include, web clients, web servers, database clients, database servers, mobile app clients, payment processors, groupware clients, groupware services, or the like. In some cases, multiple entities may co-exist on or in the same network computer, process, application, compute container, or cloud compute instance.

As used herein, the term “observation port” refers to network taps, wireless receivers, port mirrors or directed tunnels from network switches, clients or servers, virtual machines, cloud computing instances, other network infrastructure devices or processes, or the like, or combination thereof. Observation ports may provide a copy of each network packet included in wire traffic on a particular network segment or virtual local area network (VLAN). Also, for at least some of the various embodiments, observation ports may provide NMCs network packet copies through a port mirror on a managed Ethernet switch, e.g., a Switched Port Analyzer (SPAN) port, or a Roving Analysis Port (RAP).

As used herein the term, “opaque endpoint” refers to a device or computer that may obscure the source of network traffic that passes through or seemingly originates from the device or computer. In some cases, opaque endpoints may include devices such as firewalls, load balancers, routers, network gateways, proxies, or the like, that intentionally obscure the source of network traffic by design. Also, in some cases, an opaque endpoint may include device or computers that may maliciously or inadvertently obscure the source of network traffic, such as, a compromised workstation or laptop computer in an otherwise secure network environment. Further, obscuring the source of network traffic may include masking, modifying or replacing portions of the network traffic. For example, masking, modifying or replacing portions of the network traffic may include, altering header information, altering tuple information, wrapping the original network traffic (e.g., tunneling), redirecting/forwarding network traffic, network address translation, or the like, or combination thereof.

As used herein the term, “configuration information” refers to information that may include rule based policies, pattern matching, scripts (e.g., computer readable instructions), or the like, that may be provided from various sources, including, configuration files, databases, user input, built-in defaults, or the like, or combination thereof. In some cases, configuration information may include or reference information stored in other systems or services, such as, configuration management databases, Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) servers, name services, public key infrastructure services, or the like.

The following briefly describes embodiments of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This brief description is not intended as an extensive overview. It is not intended to identify key or critical elements, or to delineate or otherwise narrow the scope. Its purpose is merely to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

Briefly stated, various embodiments are directed monitoring network traffic using one or more network monitoring computers. In one or more of the various embodiments, two or more network segments that are coupled by one or more bridge devices may be monitored by one or more NMCs such that the one or more bridge devices may be arranged to modify network traffic passed from one network segment to another network segment. In one or more of the various embodiments, modification to the network traffic may include obscuring one or more characteristics of the network traffic passed between network segments, including one or more of source tuple information, destination tuple information, sequence numbers, protocol header fields, payload content, or the like.

In one or more of the various embodiments, one or more flows in one or more network segments may be determined based on monitored network traffic associated with the one or more network segments.

In one or more of the various embodiments, one or more other flows in one or more other network segments may be determined based on other monitored network traffic associated with the one or more other network segments.

In one or more of the various embodiments, a correlation score for two or more flows that are in different network segments may be provided based on one or more of a correlation model, a characteristic of the one or more flows, another characteristic of the one or more other flows, or the like.

In one or more of the various embodiments, two or more related flows may be determined based on a value of the correlation score of the two or more related flows such that the two or more related flows are located in different network segments.

In one or more of the various embodiments, a report that includes information about the two or more related flows may be provided.

In one or more of the various embodiments, one or more timing characteristics associated with the one or more flows in the one or more network segments may be modified. In some embodiments, the one or more other flows in the one or more other network segments may be determined based on the one or more modified timing characteristics. And, in some embodiments, the correlation score for the two or more flows may be updated based on the modified timing characteristics.

In one or more of the various embodiments, the network traffic associated with the one or more flows in the one or more network segments may be modified to include fingerprint information such that the fingerprint information may be passed by the one or more bridge devices from the one or more network segments to the one or more other network segments. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the one or more other flows in the one or more other network segments may be determined based on the fingerprint information. And, in some embodiments, the correlation score for the two or more flows may be updated based on the fingerprint information.

In one or more of the various embodiments, one or more transactions associated with the one or more flows in the one or more network segments may be determined based on one or more characteristics of the one or more flows such that information associated with the one or more transactions may be included in network traffic in the one or more network segments and other network traffic is included in the one or more other network segments. In some embodiments, the one or more other flows in the one or more other network segments may be determined based on the one or more transactions. And, in some embodiments, the correlation score for the two or more flows may be updated based on the one or more transactions.

In one or more of the various embodiments, one or more control flows in the one or more network segments may be determined based on one or more characteristics of the one or more control flows. Accordingly, in some embodiments, one or more content flows in the one or more other network segments may be determined based on one or more characteristics of the one or more content flows. And, in some embodiments, the correlation score for the one or more control flows and the one or more content flows may be updated.

In one or more of the various embodiments, information associated with one or more characteristics of the one or more flows may be progressively updated based on monitoring the network traffic in the one or more network segments. Also, in one or more of the various embodiments, other information associated with one or more other characteristics of the one or more other flows may be progressively updated based on monitoring other network traffic in the one or more other network segments. And, in some embodiments, the correlation score may be updated based on the updated information and the updated other information.

Illustrated Operating Environment

FIG. 1 shows components of one embodiment of an environment in which embodiments of the invention may be practiced. Not all of the components may be required to practice the invention, and variations in the arrangement and type of the components may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. As shown, system 100 of FIG. 1 includes local area networks (LANs)/wide area networks (WANs)-(network) 110, wireless network 108, client computers 102-105, application server computer 116, network monitoring computer 118, or the like.

At least one embodiment of client computers 102-105 is described in more detail below in conjunction with FIG. 2. In one embodiment, at least some of client computers 102-105 may operate over one or more wired or wireless networks, such as networks 108, or 110. Generally, client computers 102-105 may include virtually any computer capable of communicating over a network to send and receive information, perform various online activities, offline actions, or the like. In one embodiment, one or more of client computers 102-105 may be configured to operate within a business or other entity to perform a variety of services for the business or other entity. For example, client computers 102-105 may be configured to operate as a web server, firewall, client application, media player, mobile telephone, game console, desktop computer, or the like. However, client computers 102-105 are not constrained to these services and may also be employed, for example, as for end-user computing in other embodiments. It should be recognized that more or less client computers (as shown in FIG. 1) may be included within a system such as described herein, and embodiments are therefore not constrained by the number or type of client computers employed.

Computers that may operate as client computer 102 may include computers that typically connect using a wired or wireless communications medium such as personal computers, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable electronic devices, network PCs, or the like. In some embodiments, client computers 102-105 may include virtually any portable computer capable of connecting to another computer and receiving information such as, laptop computer 103, mobile computer 104, tablet computers 105, or the like. However, portable computers are not so limited and may also include other portable computers such as cellular telephones, display pagers, radio frequency (RF) devices, infrared (IR) devices, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), handheld computers, wearable computers, integrated devices combining one or more of the preceding computers, or the like. As such, client computers 102-105 typically range widely in terms of capabilities and features. Moreover, client computers 102-105 may access various computing applications, including a browser, or other web-based application.

A web-enabled client computer may include a browser application that is configured to send requests and receive responses over the web. The browser application may be configured to receive and display graphics, text, multimedia, and the like, employing virtually any web-based language. In one embodiment, the browser application is enabled to employ JavaScript, HyperText Markup Language (HTML), eXtensible Markup Language (XML), JavaScript Object Notation (JSON), Cascading Style Sheets (CS S), or the like, or combination thereof, to display and send a message. In one embodiment, a user of the client computer may employ the browser application to perform various activities over a network (online). However, another application may also be used to perform various online activities.

Client computers 102-105 also may include at least one other client application that is configured to receive or send content between another computer. The client application may include a capability to send or receive content, or the like. The client application may further provide information that identifies itself, including a type, capability, name, and the like. In one embodiment, client computers 102-105 may uniquely identify themselves through any of a variety of mechanisms, including an Internet Protocol (IP) address, a phone number, Mobile Identification Number (MIN), an electronic serial number (ESN), a client certificate, or other device identifier. Such information may be provided in one or more network packets, or the like, sent between other client computers, application server computer 116, network monitoring computer 118, or other computers.

Client computers 102-105 may further be configured to include a client application that enables an end-user to log into an end-user account that may be managed by another computer, such as application server computer 116, network monitoring computer 118, or the like. Such an end-user account, in one non-limiting example, may be configured to enable the end-user to manage one or more online activities, including in one non-limiting example, project management, software development, system administration, configuration management, search activities, social networking activities, browse various websites, communicate with other users, or the like. Further, client computers may be arranged to enable users to provide configuration information, policy information, or the like, to network monitoring computer 118. Also, client computers may be arranged to enable users to display reports, interactive user-interfaces, results provided by network monitor computer 118, or the like. Wireless network 108 is configured to couple client computers 103-105 and its components with network 110. Wireless network 108 may include any of a variety of wireless sub-networks that may further overlay stand-alone ad-hoc networks, and the like, to provide an infrastructure-oriented connection for client computers 103-105. Such sub-networks may include mesh networks, Wireless LAN (WLAN) networks, cellular networks, and the like. In one embodiment, the system may include more than one wireless network.

Wireless network 108 may further include an autonomous system of terminals, gateways, routers, and the like connected by wireless radio links, and the like. These connectors may be configured to move freely and randomly and organize themselves arbitrarily, such that the topology of wireless network 108 may change rapidly.

Wireless network 108 may further employ a plurality of access technologies including 2nd (2G), 3rd (3G), 4th (4G) 5th (5G) generation radio access for cellular systems, WLAN, Wireless Router (WR) mesh, and the like. Access technologies such as 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, and future access networks may enable wide area coverage for mobile computers, such as client computers 103-105 with various degrees of mobility. In one non-limiting example, wireless network 108 may enable a radio connection through a radio network access such as Global System for Mobil communication (GSM), General Packet Radio Services (GPRS), Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE), code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), Long Term Evolution (LTE), and the like. In essence, wireless network 108 may include virtually any wireless communication mechanism by which information may travel between client computers 103-105 and another computer, network, a cloud-based network, a cloud instance, or the like.

Network 110 is configured to couple network computers with other computers, including, application server computer 116, network monitoring computer 118, client computers 102-105 through wireless network 108, or the like. Network 110 is enabled to employ any form of computer readable media for communicating information from one electronic device to another. Also, network 110 can include the Internet in addition to local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), direct connections, such as through a universal serial bus (USB) port, Ethernet port, other forms of computer-readable media, or any combination thereof. On an interconnected set of LANs, including those based on differing architectures and protocols, a router acts as a link between LANs, enabling messages to be sent from one to another. In addition, communication links within LANs typically include twisted wire pair or coaxial cable, while communication links between networks may utilize analog telephone lines, full or fractional dedicated digital lines including T1, T2, T3, and T4, or other carrier mechanisms including, for example, E-carriers, Integrated Services Digital Networks (ISDNs), Digital Subscriber Lines (DSLs), wireless links including satellite links, or other communications links known to those skilled in the art. Moreover, communication links may further employ any of a variety of digital signaling technologies, including without limit, for example, DS-0, DS-1, DS-2, DS-3, DS-4, OC-3, OC-12, OC-48, or the like. Furthermore, remote computers and other related electronic devices could be remotely connected to either LANs or WANs via a modem and temporary telephone link. In one embodiment, network 110 may be configured to transport information using one or more network protocols, such Internet Protocol (IP).

Additionally, communication media typically embodies computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other transport mechanism and includes any information non-transitory delivery media or transitory delivery media. By way of example, communication media includes wired media such as twisted pair, coaxial cable, fiber optics, wave guides, and other wired media and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared, and other wireless media.

One embodiment of application server computer 116 is described in more detail below in conjunction with FIG. 3. One embodiment of network monitoring computer 118 is described in more detail below in conjunction with FIG. 3. Although FIG. 1 illustrates application server computer 116, and network monitoring computer 118, each as a single computer, the innovations or embodiments are not so limited. For example, one or more functions of application server computer 116, network monitoring computer 118, or the like, may be distributed across one or more distinct network computers. Moreover, in one or more embodiment, network monitoring computer 118 may be implemented using a plurality of network computers. Further, in one or more of the various embodiments, application server computer 116, or network monitoring computer 118 may be implemented using one or more cloud instances in one or more cloud networks. Accordingly, these innovations and embodiments are not to be construed as being limited to a single environment, and other configurations, and other architectures are also envisaged.

Illustrative Client Computer

FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of client computer 200 that may include many more or less components than those shown. Client computer 200 may represent, for example, at least one embodiment of mobile computers or client computers shown in FIG. 1.

Client computer 200 may include processor 202 in communication with memory 204 via bus 228. Client computer 200 may also include power supply 230, network interface 232, audio interface 256, display 250, keypad 252, illuminator 254, video interface 242, input/output interface 238, haptic interface 264, global positioning systems (GPS) receiver 258, open air gesture interface 260, temperature interface 262, camera(s) 240, projector 246, pointing device interface 266, processor-readable stationary storage device 234, and processor-readable removable storage device 236. Client computer 200 may optionally communicate with a base station (not shown), or directly with another computer. And in one embodiment, although not shown, a gyroscope may be employed within client computer 200 for measuring or maintaining an orientation of client computer 200.

Power supply 230 may provide power to client computer 200. A rechargeable or non-rechargeable battery may be used to provide power. The power may also be provided by an external power source, such as an AC adapter or a powered docking cradle that supplements or recharges the battery.

Network interface 232 includes circuitry for coupling client computer 200 to one or more networks, and is constructed for use with one or more communication protocols and technologies including, but not limited to, protocols and technologies that implement any portion of the OSI model for mobile communication (GSM), CDMA, time division multiple access (TDMA), UDP, TCP/IP, SMS, MMS, GPRS, WAP, UWB, WiMax, SIP/RTP, GPRS, EDGE, WCDMA, LTE, UMTS, OFDM, CDMA2000, EV-DO, HSDPA, or any of a variety of other wireless communication protocols. Network interface 232 is sometimes known as a transceiver, transceiving device, or network interface card (MC).

Audio interface 256 may be arranged to produce and receive audio signals such as the sound of a human voice. For example, audio interface 256 may be coupled to a speaker and microphone (not shown) to enable telecommunication with others or generate an audio acknowledgement for some action. A microphone in audio interface 256 can also be used for input to or control of client computer 200, e.g., using voice recognition, detecting touch based on sound, and the like.

Display 250 may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), gas plasma, electronic ink, light emitting diode (LED), Organic LED (OLED) or any other type of light reflective or light transmissive display that can be used with a computer. Display 250 may also include a touch interface 244 arranged to receive input from an object such as a stylus or a digit from a human hand, and may use resistive, capacitive, surface acoustic wave (SAW), infrared, radar, or other technologies to sense touch or gestures.

Projector 246 may be a remote handheld projector or an integrated projector that is capable of projecting an image on a remote wall or any other reflective object such as a remote screen.

Video interface 242 may be arranged to capture video images, such as a still photo, a video segment, an infrared video, or the like. For example, video interface 242 may be coupled to a digital video camera, a web-camera, or the like. Video interface 242 may comprise a lens, an image sensor, and other electronics. Image sensors may include a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) integrated circuit, charge-coupled device (CCD), or any other integrated circuit for sensing light.

Keypad 252 may comprise any input device arranged to receive input from a user. For example, keypad 252 may include a push button numeric dial, or a keyboard. Keypad 252 may also include command buttons that are associated with selecting and sending images.

Illuminator 254 may provide a status indication or provide light. Illuminator 254 may remain active for specific periods of time or in response to event messages. For example, when illuminator 254 is active, it may backlight the buttons on keypad 252 and stay on while the client computer is powered. Also, illuminator 254 may backlight these buttons in various patterns when particular actions are performed, such as dialing another client computer. Illuminator 254 may also cause light sources positioned within a transparent or translucent case of the client computer to illuminate in response to actions.

Further, client computer 200 may also comprise hardware security module (HSM) 268 for providing additional tamper resistant safeguards for generating, storing or using security/cryptographic information such as, keys, digital certificates, passwords, passphrases, two-factor authentication information, or the like. In some embodiments, hardware security module may be employed to support one or more standard public key infrastructures (PKI), and may be employed to generate, manage, or store keys pairs, or the like. In some embodiments, HSM 268 may be a stand-alone computer, in other cases, HSM 268 may be arranged as a hardware card that may be added to a client computer.

Client computer 200 may also comprise input/output interface 238 for communicating with external peripheral devices or other computers such as other client computers and network computers. The peripheral devices may include an audio headset, virtual reality headsets, display screen glasses, remote speaker system, remote speaker and microphone system, and the like. Input/output interface 238 can utilize one or more technologies, such as Universal Serial Bus (USB), Infrared, WiFi, WiMax, Bluetooth™, and the like.

Input/output interface 238 may also include one or more sensors for determining geolocation information (e.g., GPS), monitoring electrical power conditions (e.g., voltage sensors, current sensors, frequency sensors, and so on), monitoring weather (e.g., thermostats, barometers, anemometers, humidity detectors, precipitation scales, or the like), or the like. Sensors may be one or more hardware sensors that collect or measure data that is external to client computer 200.

Haptic interface 264 may be arranged to provide tactile feedback to a user of the client computer. For example, the haptic interface 264 may be employed to vibrate client computer 200 in a particular way when another user of a computer is calling. Temperature interface 262 may be used to provide a temperature measurement input or a temperature changing output to a user of client computer 200. Open air gesture interface 260 may sense physical gestures of a user of client computer 200, for example, by using single or stereo video cameras, radar, a gyroscopic sensor inside a computer held or worn by the user, or the like. Camera 240 may be used to track physical eye movements of a user of client computer 200.

GPS transceiver 258 can determine the physical coordinates of client computer 200 on the surface of the Earth, which typically outputs a location as latitude and longitude values. GPS transceiver 258 can also employ other geo-positioning mechanisms, including, but not limited to, triangulation, assisted GPS (AGPS), Enhanced Observed Time Difference (E-OTD), Cell Identifier (CI), Service Area Identifier (SAI), Enhanced Timing Advance (ETA), Base Station Subsystem (BSS), or the like, to further determine the physical location of client computer 200 on the surface of the Earth. It is understood that under different conditions, GPS transceiver 258 can determine a physical location for client computer 200. In one or more embodiment, however, client computer 200 may, through other components, provide other information that may be employed to determine a physical location of the client computer, including for example, a Media Access Control (MAC) address, IP address, and the like.

Human interface components can be peripheral devices that are physically separate from client computer 200, allowing for remote input or output to client computer 200. For example, information routed as described here through human interface components such as display 250 or keyboard 252 can instead be routed through network interface 232 to appropriate human interface components located remotely. Examples of human interface peripheral components that may be remote include, but are not limited to, audio devices, pointing devices, keypads, displays, cameras, projectors, and the like. These peripheral components may communicate over a Pico Network such as Bluetooth™, Zigbee™ and the like. One non-limiting example of a client computer with such peripheral human interface components is a wearable computer, which might include a remote pico projector along with one or more cameras that remotely communicate with a separately located client computer to sense a user's gestures toward portions of an image projected by the pico projector onto a reflected surface such as a wall or the user's hand.

A client computer may include web browser application 226 that is configured to receive and to send web pages, web-based messages, graphics, text, multimedia, and the like. The client computer's browser application may employ virtually any programming language, including a wireless application protocol messages (WAP), and the like. In one or more embodiment, the browser application is enabled to employ Handheld Device Markup Language (HDML), Wireless Markup Language (WML), WMLScript, JavaScript, Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML), HyperText Markup Language (HTML), eXtensible Markup Language (XML), HTML5, and the like.

Memory 204 may include RAM, ROM, or other types of memory. Memory 204 illustrates an example of computer-readable storage media (devices) for storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Memory 204 may store BIOS 208 for controlling low-level operation of client computer 200. The memory may also store operating system 206 for controlling the operation of client computer 200. It will be appreciated that this component may include a general-purpose operating system such as a version of UNIX, or LINUX™, or a specialized client computer communication operating system such as Windows Phone™, or the Symbian® operating system. The operating system may include, or interface with a Java virtual machine module that enables control of hardware components or operating system operations via Java application programs.

Memory 204 may further include one or more data storage 210, which can be utilized by client computer 200 to store, among other things, applications 220 or other data. For example, data storage 210 may also be employed to store information that describes various capabilities of client computer 200. The information may then be provided to another device or computer based on any of a variety of methods, including being sent as part of a header during a communication, sent upon request, or the like. Data storage 210 may also be employed to store social networking information including address books, buddy lists, aliases, user profile information, or the like. Data storage 210 may further include program code, data, algorithms, and the like, for use by a processor, such as processor 202 to execute and perform actions. In one embodiment, at least some of data storage 210 might also be stored on another component of client computer 200, including, but not limited to, non-transitory processor-readable removable storage device 236, processor-readable stationary storage device 234, or even external to the client computer.

Applications 220 may include computer executable instructions which, when executed by client computer 200, transmit, receive, or otherwise process instructions and data. Applications 220 may include, for example, other client applications 224, web browser 226, or the like. Client computers may be arranged to exchange communications, such as, queries, searches, messages, notification messages, event messages, alerts, performance metrics, log data, API calls, or the like, combination thereof, with application servers or network monitoring computers. Other examples of application programs include calendars, search programs, email client applications, IM applications, SMS applications, Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) applications, contact managers, task managers, transcoders, database programs, word processing programs, security applications, spreadsheet programs, games, search programs, and so forth.

Additionally, in one or more embodiments (not shown in the figures), client computer 200 may include one or more embedded logic hardware devices instead of CPUs, such as, an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), Programmable Array Logic (PAL), or the like, or combination thereof. The embedded logic hardware devices may directly execute embedded logic to perform actions. Also, in one or more embodiments (not shown in the figures), client computer 200 may include one or more hardware microcontrollers instead of CPUs. In one or more embodiments, the microcontrollers may directly execute their own embedded logic to perform actions and access their own internal memory and their own external Input and Output Interfaces (e.g., hardware pins or wireless transceivers) to perform actions, such as System On a Chip (SOC), or the like.

Illustrative Network Computer

FIG. 3 shows one embodiment of network computer 300 that may be included in a system implementing at least one of the various embodiments. Network computer 300 may include many more or less components than those shown in FIG. 3. However, the components shown are sufficient to disclose an illustrative embodiment for practicing these innovations. Network computer 300 may represent, for example, one embodiment of at least one of application server computer 116, or network monitoring computer 118 of FIG. 1.

As shown in the figure, network computer 300 includes a processor 302 that may be in communication with a memory 304 via a bus 328. In some embodiments, processor 302 may be comprised of one or more hardware processors, or one or more processor cores. In some cases, one or more of the one or more processors may be specialized processors designed to perform one or more specialized actions, such as, those described herein. Network computer 300 also includes a power supply 330, network interface 332, audio interface 356, display 350, keyboard 352, input/output interface 338, processor-readable stationary storage device 334, and processor-readable removable storage device 336. Power supply 330 provides power to network computer 300.

Network interface 332 includes circuitry for coupling network computer 300 to one or more networks, and is constructed for use with one or more communication protocols and technologies including, but not limited to, protocols and technologies that implement any portion of the Open Systems Interconnection model (OSI model), global system for mobile communication (GSM), code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), user datagram protocol (UDP), transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP), Short Message Service (SMS), Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), general packet radio service (GPRS), WAP, ultra-wide band (UWB), IEEE 802.16 Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), Session Initiation Protocol/Real-time Transport Protocol (SIP/RTP), or any of a variety of other wired and wireless communication protocols. Network interface 332 is sometimes known as a transceiver, transceiving device, or network interface card (NIC). Network computer 300 may optionally communicate with a base station (not shown), or directly with another computer.

Audio interface 356 is arranged to produce and receive audio signals such as the sound of a human voice. For example, audio interface 356 may be coupled to a speaker and microphone (not shown) to enable telecommunication with others or generate an audio acknowledgement for some action. A microphone in audio interface 356 can also be used for input to or control of network computer 300, for example, using voice recognition.

Display 350 may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), gas plasma, electronic ink, light emitting diode (LED), Organic LED (OLED) or any other type of light reflective or light transmissive display that can be used with a computer. In some embodiments, display 350 may be a handheld projector or pico projector capable of projecting an image on a wall or other object.

Network computer 300 may also comprise input/output interface 338 for communicating with external devices or computers not shown in FIG. 3. Input/output interface 338 can utilize one or more wired or wireless communication technologies, such as USB™, Firewire™, WiFi, WiMax, Thunderbolt™, Infrared, Bluetooth™, Zigbee™, serial port, parallel port, and the like.

Also, input/output interface 338 may also include one or more sensors for determining geolocation information (e.g., GPS), monitoring electrical power conditions (e.g., voltage sensors, current sensors, frequency sensors, and so on), monitoring weather (e.g., thermostats, barometers, anemometers, humidity detectors, precipitation scales, or the like), or the like. Sensors may be one or more hardware sensors that collect or measure data that is external to network computer 300. Human interface components can be physically separate from network computer 300, allowing for remote input or output to network computer 300. For example, information routed as described here through human interface components such as display 350 or keyboard 352 can instead be routed through the network interface 332 to appropriate human interface components located elsewhere on the network. Human interface components include any component that allows the computer to take input from, or send output to, a human user of a computer. Accordingly, pointing devices such as mice, styluses, track balls, or the like, may communicate through pointing device interface 358 to receive user input.

GPS transceiver 340 can determine the physical coordinates of network computer 300 on the surface of the Earth, which typically outputs a location as latitude and longitude values. GPS transceiver 340 can also employ other geo-positioning mechanisms, including, but not limited to, triangulation, assisted GPS (AGPS), Enhanced Observed Time Difference (E-OTD), Cell Identifier (CI), Service Area Identifier (SAI), Enhanced Timing Advance (ETA), Base Station Subsystem (BSS), or the like, to further determine the physical location of network computer 300 on the surface of the Earth. It is understood that under different conditions, GPS transceiver 340 can determine a physical location for network computer 300. In one or more embodiment, however, network computer 300 may, through other components, provide other information that may be employed to determine a physical location of the client computer, including for example, a Media Access Control (MAC) address, IP address, and the like.

In at least one of the various embodiments, applications, such as, operating system 306, network monitoring engine 322, correlation engine 324, modeling engine 326, web services 329, or the like, may be arranged to employ geo-location information to select one or more localization features, such as, time zones, languages, currencies, calendar formatting, or the like. Localization features may be used when interpreting network traffic, monitoring application protocols, user-interfaces, reports, as well as internal processes or databases. In at least one of the various embodiments, geo-location information used for selecting localization information may be provided by GPS 340. Also, in some embodiments, geolocation information may include information provided using one or more geolocation protocols over the networks, such as, wireless network 108 or network 111.

Memory 304 may include Random Access Memory (RAM), Read-Only Memory (ROM), or other types of memory. Memory 304 illustrates an example of computer-readable storage media (devices) for storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Memory 304 stores a basic input/output system (BIOS) 308 for controlling low-level operation of network computer 300. The memory also stores an operating system 306 for controlling the operation of network computer 300. It will be appreciated that this component may include a general-purpose operating system such as a version of UNIX, or LINUX™, or a specialized operating system such as Microsoft Corporation's Windows® operating system, or the Apple Corporation's IOS® operating system. The operating system may include, or interface with a Java virtual machine module that enables control of hardware components or operating system operations via Java application programs. Likewise, other runtime environments may be included.

Memory 304 may further include one or more data storage 310, which can be utilized by network computer 300 to store, among other things, applications 320 or other data. For example, data storage 310 may also be employed to store information that describes various capabilities of network computer 300. The information may then be provided to another device or computer based on any of a variety of methods, including being sent as part of a header during a communication, sent upon request, or the like. Data storage 310 may also be employed to store social networking information including address books, buddy lists, aliases, user profile information, or the like. Data storage 310 may further include program code, data, algorithms, and the like, for use by a processor, such as processor 302 to execute and perform actions such as those actions described below. In one embodiment, at least some of data storage 310 might also be stored on another component of network computer 300, including, but not limited to, non-transitory media inside processor-readable removable storage device 336, processor-readable stationary storage device 334, or any other computer-readable storage device within network computer 300, or even external to network computer 300. Data storage 310 may include, for example, network topology database 314, protocol information 316, or the like. In some embodiments, network topology database 314 may be a data store that contains information related to the topology of one or more network monitored by a NMC, including one or more device relation models. And, protocol information 316 may store various rules or configuration information related to one or more network communication protocols, including application protocols, secure communication protocols, client-server protocols, peer-to-peer protocols, shared file system protocols, protocol state machines, or the like, that may be employed for protocol analysis, entity auto-discovery, anomaly detections, or the like, in a monitored network environment. Applications 320 may include computer executable instructions which, when executed by network computer 300, transmit, receive, or otherwise process messages (e.g., SMS, Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), Instant Message (IM), email, or other messages), audio, video, and enable telecommunication with another user of another mobile computer. Other examples of application programs include calendars, search programs, email client applications, IM applications, SMS applications, Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) applications, contact managers, task managers, transcoders, database programs, word processing programs, security applications, spreadsheet programs, games, search programs, and so forth. Applications 320 may include network monitoring engine 322, correlation engine 324, modeling engine 326, web services 329, or the like, that may be arranged to perform actions for embodiments described below. In one or more of the various embodiments, one or more of the applications may be implemented as modules or components of another application. Further, in one or more of the various embodiments, applications may be implemented as operating system extensions, modules, plugins, or the like.

Furthermore, in one or more of the various embodiments, network monitoring engine 322, correlation engine 324, modeling engine 326, web services 329, or the like, may be operative in a cloud-based computing environment. In one or more of the various embodiments, these applications, and others, that comprise a network monitoring computer may be executing within virtual machines or virtual servers that may be managed in a cloud-based based computing environment. In one or more of the various embodiments, in this context the applications may flow from one physical network computer within the cloud-based environment to another depending on performance and scaling considerations automatically managed by the cloud computing environment. Likewise, in one or more of the various embodiments, virtual machines or virtual servers dedicated to network monitoring engine 322, correlation engine 324, modeling engine 326, web services 329, or the like, may be provisioned and de-commissioned automatically.

Also, in one or more of the various embodiments, network monitoring engine 322, correlation engine 324, modeling engine 326, web services 329, or the like, may be located in virtual servers running in a cloud-based computing environment rather than being tied to one or more specific physical network computers. Likewise, in some embodiments, one or more of network monitoring engine 322, correlation engine 324, modeling engine 326, web services 329, or the like, may be configured to execute in a container-based environment.

Further, network computer 300 may also comprise hardware security module (HSM) 360 for providing additional tamper resistant safeguards for generating, storing or using security/cryptographic information such as, keys, digital certificates, passwords, passphrases, two-factor authentication information, or the like. In some embodiments, hardware security module may be employ to support one or more standard public key infrastructures (PKI), and may be employed to generate, manage, or store keys pairs, or the like. In some embodiments, HSM 360 may be a stand-alone network computer, in other cases, HSM 360 may be arranged as a hardware card that may be installed in a network computer.

Additionally, in one or more embodiments (not shown in the figures), network computer 300 may include one or more embedded logic hardware devices instead of CPUs, such as, an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), Programmable Array Logic (PAL), or the like, or combination thereof. The embedded logic hardware device may directly execute its embedded logic to perform actions. Also, in one or more embodiments (not shown in the figures), the network computer may include one or more hardware microcontrollers instead of CPUs. In one or more embodiments, the one or more microcontrollers may directly execute their own embedded logic to perform actions and access their own internal memory and their own external Input and Output Interfaces (e.g., hardware pins or wireless transceivers) to perform actions, such as System On a Chip (SOC), or the like.

Illustrative Logical System Architecture

FIG. 4 illustrates a logical architecture of system 400 for correlating network traffic that crosses opaque endpoints in accordance with one or more of the various embodiments. System 400 may be arranged to include a plurality of network devices or network computers on first network 402 and a plurality of network devices or network computers on second network 404. In this example. communication between the first network and the second network is managed by switch 406. Also, NMC 408 may be arranged to passively monitor or record packets (network packets) that are communicated in network flows between network devices or network computers on first network 402 and second network 404. For example, the communication of flows of packets between the Host B network computer and the Host A network computer are managed by switch 406 and NMC 408 may be passively monitoring and recording some or all of the network traffic comprising these flows.

NMC 408 may be arranged to receive network communication for monitoring through a variety of means including network taps, wireless receivers, port mirrors or directed tunnels from network switches, clients or servers including the endpoints themselves, virtual machine, cloud computing instances, other network infrastructure devices, or the like, or combination thereof. In at least some of the various embodiments, the NMC may receive a copy of each packet on a particular network segment or virtual local area network (VLAN). Also, for at least some of the various embodiments, NMCs may receive these packet copies through a port mirror on a managed Ethernet switch, e.g., a Switched Port Analyzer (SPAN) port, or a Roving Analysis Port (RAP). Port mirroring enables analysis and debugging of network communications. Port mirroring can be performed for inbound or outbound traffic (or both) on single or multiple interfaces. For example, in some embodiments, NMCs may be arranged to receive electronic signals over or via a physical hardware sensor that passively receives taps into the electronic signals that travel over the physical wires of one or more networks.

FIG. 5 illustrates a logical schematic of system 500 for correlating network traffic that crosses opaque endpoints in accordance with one or more of the various embodiments. In one or more of the various embodiments, an NMC, such as NMC 502 may be arranged to monitor network traffic in one or more networks, such as, network 504, network 506, or network 508. In this example, network 504, network 506, or network 508 may be considered similar to network 108 or network 110. Also, in some embodiments, one or more of network 504, network 506, or network 508 may be considered cloud computing environments. Likewise, in some embodiments, one or more of network 504, network 506, or network 508 may be considered remote data centers, local data centers, or the like, or combination thereof.

In one or more of the various embodiments, NMCs, such as NMC 502 may be arranged to communicate with one or more capture agents, such as, capture agent 512, capture agent 514, or capture agent 514. In some embodiments, capture agents may be arranged to selectively capture network traffic or collect network traffic metrics that may be provided to NMC 502 for additional analysis.

In one or more of the various embodiments, capture agents may be NMCs that are distributed in various networks or cloud environments. For example, in some embodiments, a simplified system may include one or more NMCs that also provide capture agent services. In some embodiments, capture agents may be NMCs arranged to instantiate one or more capture engines to perform one or more capture or collection actions. Similarly, in one or more of the various embodiments, one or more capture agents may be instantiated or hosted separately from one or more NMCs.

In one or more of the various embodiments, capture agents may be selectively installed such that they may capture metrics for selected portions of the monitored networks. Also, in some embodiments, in networks that have groups or clusters of the same or similar entities, capture agents may be selectively installed on one or more entities that may be representative of entire groups or clusters pf similar entities. Thus, in some embodiments, capture agents on the representative entities may collect metrics or traffic that may be used to infer the metrics or activity associated with similarly situated entities that do not include a capture agent.

Likewise, in one or more of the various embodiments, one or more capture agents may be installed or activated for a limited time period to collect information that may be used to infer activity information about the monitored networks. Accordingly, in one or more of the various embodiments, these one or more capture agents may be removed or de-activated if sufficient activity information or network traffic has been collected.

In one or more of the various embodiments, system 500 may include one or more network entities, such as, entities 518, entities 520, or the like, that communicate in or over one or more of the monitored networks. Entities 518 and entities 520 are illustrated here as cloud environment compute instances (e.g., virtual machines), or the like. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that entities may be considered to be various network computers, network appliances, routers, switches, applications, services, containers, or the like, subject to network monitoring by one or more NMCs. (See, FIG. 4, as well).

In this example, for one or more of the various embodiments, capture agents, such as capture agent 512 may be arranged capture network traffic or network traffic metrics associated with one or more entities, such as, entities 518. Accordingly, in some embodiments, some or all of the information captured by capture agents may be provided to one or more NMCs, such as, NMC 502 for additional analysis. Also, in one or more of the various embodiments, capture agents or NMCs may be arranged to selectively store network traffic in a captured data store, such as, captured data store 522.

FIG. 6 illustrates a logical schematic of system 600 for correlating network traffic that crosses opaque endpoints in accordance with one or more of the various embodiments. In some embodiments, a network, such as, network 602 may be arranged to include various entities, such as, computers, devices, services, or the like. In this example, for some embodiments, network computer 604, network computer 606 may represent computers inside network 602. In this example, network 602 may be configured such that its internal entities may be inaccessible to other entities (e.g., computers, services, devices, or the like) unless the communication originates in network 602. In this example, network computer 612 and network computer 614 may represent entities that are not in network 602.

Accordingly, edge devices, such as, edge device 610 may be arranged to provide entities outside of network 602 access to some or all of the entities inside network 602. In some embodiments, edge devices may include hardware or software implementations of NAT devices, firewalls, load balances, routers, proxies, or the like. In some embodiments, a common characteristic of edge devices, such as, edge device 610 may include providing a network endpoint that receives network traffic that it transforms and forwards to another endpoints. For example, edge device 610 may be arranged to perform network address translation (NAT) to enable devices outside of network 602 to reach devices inside network 602. In some embodiments, the NAT operation may modify the network traffic from the “external” devices to enable that traffic reach devices inside other networks, such as, network 602.

In one or more of the various embodiments, edge devices, such as edge device 610 may modify portions of the incoming network traffic. In some cases, these modifications may include deliberately modifying portions of the network traffic that enable its source/origination to be easily identified. In some embodiments, edge devices, such as, edge device 610 may be arranged to transform network address information (e.g., tuple information) in ways that may obscure the source of the traffic. Accordingly, in one or more of the various embodiments, it may be difficult or impossible for conventional network tools to correlate network traffic flowing through one network (or network segment) with network traffic in other networks (or network segments) even though the network traffic may be part of the same communication session or transaction. For example, in some embodiments, address translation may modify critical protocol header fields such that a conventional monitor may be unable to determine the original source of the traffic.

As described above, in one or more of the various embodiments, NMCs, such as, NMC 608 may be arranged to passively monitor network traffic that occurs inside network 602 as well as traffic that arrives at edge device 610. In some embodiments, there may be more than one NMC, such that one or more NMCs may be arranged to monitor network traffic inside network 602 and one or more NMCs that may be arranged to monitor network traffic that occurs outside of network 602.

Accordingly, in one or more of the various embodiments, NMCs, such as, NMC 608 may be arranged to perform various actions to correlate network traffic outside of network 602 with network traffic inside network 602. Accordingly, in one or more of the various embodiments, NMCs may be arranged to correlate network traffic flows (flows) occurring outside of network 602 with flows inside network 602.

In one or more of the various embodiments, NMCs may be arranged to monitor flows in two or more networks or network segments and correlate them based on various characteristics of the network traffic comprising the flows. Accordingly, in one or more of the various embodiments, NMCs may be arranged to collect various metrics that may be associated with various flows in the monitored networks. In some embodiments, NMCs may be arranged to employ the metrics along with various correlation models (not shown) to determine correlation information that may enable flows in one network or network segment to be correlated with flows in other networks or network segments.

FIG. 7 illustrates a logical schematic of system 700 for correlating network traffic that crosses opaque endpoints in accordance with one or more of the various embodiments. In some embodiments, system, such as, system 700 may include two or network segments, such as, network segment 702, network segment 704, or the like. In some embodiments, network segments may be portions of a network that may be configured such that devices in one segment may be disabled from directly communicating with devices in another segment.

In this example, for some embodiments, network computer 706 is in network segment 702 while network computer 710 and network computer 712 may be considered to by network segment 704. Thus, in this example, network computer 706 may be disabled from communicating or otherwise accessing network computer 710 because the two network computers are in different network segment. Note, in some cases, network segments may be configured to enable computers in different network segments to transparently communicate with each other. This example relates to network segments that are configured disable direct cross boundary communications or access.

Accordingly, in one or more of the various embodiments, one or more computers or devices, such as, network computer 708 may be arranged provide a bridge from one network segment to another network segment. In some embodiments, bridge device may be considered similar to edge devices described above except that they may bridge internal network segments rather than enabling external devices to access internal networks.

Also, in some embodiments, edge device 714 may be arranged to enables computers from other networks (e.g., the internet) to access devices or services in one or more network segments. In this example, edge device 714 may be configured to enables an outside computer, such as, network computer 716 to access computers in network segment 702. Thus, in this example, edge device 714 may protect or control access to network segment 702 while bridge device 708 may protect or control access to network segment 704, namely preventing outside computers from directly accessing network segment 704. For example, for some embodiments, outside computer 716 may be disable from accessing any computer in network segment 704 because it cannot access bridge device 708.

However, in one or more of the various embodiments, outside computers, such as, network computer 716 may pass network traffic through edge device 714 to one or more network computers in network segment 702. Thus, in some circumstances, malicious or otherwise, in order for network traffic from network computer 716 to reach computers in network segment 704, that network traffic must pass through edge device 714 and at least bridge device 708 to reach computers in network segment 704.

In one or more of the various embodiments, as described above, network traffic that passes through devices, such as, edge device 714 may have critical information changed or transformed such that its source may be obscured. Accordingly, in some embodiments, network traffic comprising flows associated with network computer 716 may enter network segment 702 via edge device 714. However, in some embodiments, the actions of edge device 714 may make it difficult for conventional monitoring devices to determine that the source of the flows are network computer 716.

Accordingly, in one or more of the various embodiments, one or more NMCs, such as, NMC 718 or NMC 720 may be arranged to monitor the network traffic in the different network segments to identify various network flows between various entities in the network segments. Further, in some embodiments, the NMCs may be arranged to collect various metrics associated with the flows. In one or more of the various embodiments, the metrics may be used to develop correlation information for correlate flows in one network segment with flows in other network segments.

For example, in some embodiments, while network computer 716 may be disabled from directly accessing network computer 712, it may be enabled to reach network computer 712 indirectly. For example, in some embodiments: network computer 716 may directly reach edge device 714 with one flow; the edge device 714 may create another flow that can reach bridge device 708 (directly or via network computer 706); and bridge device 708 may then create still another flow that may reach network computer 712. So, in this example, through a series of distinct but related flows, network traffic associated with network computer 716 may reach network computer 712. In some embodiments, determining that a flow reaching network computer 712 is associated with a network computer, such as, network computer 716 may be difficult because intervening devices (here at least edge device 714 and bridge device 708) may modify the network traffic originally sent by network computer 716.

FIG. 8 illustrates a logical schematic of system 800 for correlating network traffic that crosses opaque endpoints in accordance with one or more of the various embodiments. In some embodiments, systems such as, system 800 may include two or more network segments, such as, network segment 802 or network segment 812 that may be in public cloud-based environments, private cloud-based computing environments, private on-premises data centers, or the like, or combination thereof. Also, in some embodiments, systems such as, system 800 may include one or more NAT layers, such as, NAT layer 820 that perform address translation, bridging, or the like, that enable entities in network segment 802 reach entities in network segment 812.

In one or more of the various embodiments, NAT layer 820, or the like, may generally be opaque such that a cloud provider may perform numerous address translations, routing, tunneling, or the like, that may not be visible to the users, owners, operators, administrators, or the like, of system 800. Thus, in one or more of the various embodiments, determining which entities in network segment 802 may be associated with the network traffic that reach entities in network segment 812 may be difficult.

Accordingly, in one or more of the various embodiments, NMCs, such as, NMC 810 or NMC 818 may be arranged to monitor the network traffic in network segment 802 and network segment 812 to collect metrics for some or all of the various flows in each network segment. In some embodiments, the collected metrics may be provided to a correlation engine to determine if one or more flows in network segment 802 may be correlated with network segment 812. In some embodiments, the correlation engine may enable users, administrators, or services to infer the source of network traffic see in one network segment even though that source may be in another network segment.

FIG. 9 illustrates a logical schematic of a portion of NMC 900 for using NMCs to correlate network traffic that crosses opaque endpoints in accordance with one or more of the various embodiments. In this example, NMC 900 may be considered to be a full featured NMC as described above. However, in the interest of brevity and clarity many of the components or part of NMC 900 are committed from FIG. 9. Though, one or ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the portion of NMC 900 described here is at least sufficient for disclosing the innovations for correlating network traffic that crosses opaque endpoints.

In one or more of the various embodiments, NMCs may be arranged to include one or more correlation engines, such as, correlation engine 902. In some embodiments, correlation engines may be provided correlation information, such as, correlation information 904. In some embodiments, correlation information may include information based on or derived from monitoring network flows in two or more network segments. In this example, flow profile 904A and flow profile 904B may represent correlation information for flows in different network segments.

In one or more of the various embodiments, flow profiles, such as, flow profile 904A or flow profile 904B may be data structures that store one or more values that may be based on or derived from metrics collected by NMCs monitoring the network traffic in different network segments. In some embodiments, correlation information may be continuously provided to correlation engines as the information is produced. In other embodiments, NMCs may be arranged to periodically provide correlation information to correlation engines.

In one or more of the various embodiments, correlation engines, such as, correlation engine 902 may be arranged to employ one or more correlation models, such as correlation models 906 to determine if two or more flows may be correlated. In this example, correlation information 904 has flow profiles for two different flows. Accordingly, in this example, correlation engine 902 may generate a correlation profile, such as, correlation profile 908, that includes the correlation results produced by the one or more correlation models.

In one or more of the various embodiments, correlation profiles may be arranged to include correlation scores produced by each correlation model. In some embodiments, correlation scores from two or more correlation models may be weighted or summed together to produce a total correlation score. Thus, in some embodiments, the individual correlation scores may be considered correlation sub-scores, or the like. In some embodiments, correlation engines may be arranged to determine weights for individual correlation models based on configuration information. Also, in some embodiments, some correlation models may provide a confidence score that represents the likelihood that the correlation value is accurate. In some cases, the confidence score may be represented as margins of error, probability distributions, probabilities, variances, or the like.

In one or more of the various embodiments, correlation models are not limited to any particular theoretic method. Accordingly, in some embodiments, correlation models may include models that may be arranged to accept flow profiles or flow profile information as input parameters and provide flow correlation information as outputs. Further, in some embodiments, different correlation models may be arranged to receive more or fewer parameters than other correlation models. In one or more of the various embodiments, correlation models may be based on one or more heuristics, linear regressions, other linear models, machine learning models, or the like, or combination thereof.

In some embodiments, correlation scores (sub-scores) may be arranged to be expressed in various ranges having various intervals. Accordingly, in one or more of the various embodiments, correlation engines may be arranged to employ rules or instructions that may be provided via configuration information to normalize or otherwise adjust the values to a common scale, interval, or distribution.

In one or more of the various embodiments, flow profiles may include values associated with one or more metrics collected based on network traffic monitoring performed by one or more NMCs. In some embodiments, such metrics may include various information or values associated with state information, protocol status information, security/cryptography information, tuple information, transmission rates, latency measurements, or the like. For example, in one or more of the various embodiments, flow profiles may include information that represent various states or activities, including: connection status/behavior, such as opening, closing, resets, other connection information, or the like; session information/behavior; propagation of events/actions associated with connections, sessions, or applications; application protocol features, such as, cookies, handshakes, tokens, or the like; control flow vs data flow activity; security associations; Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) correlations, Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) flags/state; fast/slow startup; basic authorization activity; Kerberos tokens; Transport Layer Security (TLS) session tokens, x509 certificates; various temporal correlations, such as, latency, jitters, or the like.

In one or more of the various embodiments, generally, metrics or state collected by NMCs may be transformed or formatted into values that may be included in flow profiles. In some embodiments, such values may be continuous, discrete, categorical, numeric, alphanumeric, compound (more than one sub-part), or the like, or combination thereof. Also, in some embodiments, flow profiles may be arranged to include fields that one or more correlation models may ignore. Likewise, in some embodiments, one or more correlation models may require one or more fields that may not be included in every flow profile.

In one or more of the various embodiments, one or more correlation models may include defaults to provide values for field values not provided by a given flow profile. Alternatively, in one or more of the various embodiments, some correlation models may be included or excluded from determining flow correlations depending on the fields available in the flow profiles under consideration. In one or more of the various embodiments, correlation engines may be arranged to employ configuration information to determine rules for including or excluding correlation models from determining flow correlations.

In one or more of the various embodiments, flow profiles may be updated on the fly as more relevant information may be collected by NMCs. Also, in one or more of the various embodiments, correlation profiles may be progressively generated as new or updated correlation information or flow profiles are provided.

Generalized Operations

FIGS. 10-15 represent generalized operations for correlating network traffic that crosses opaque endpoints in accordance with one or more of the various embodiments. In one or more of the various embodiments, processes 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, and, 1500 described in conjunction with FIGS. 10-15 may be implemented by or executed by one or more processors on a single network computer (or network monitoring computer), such as network computer 300 of FIG. 3. In other embodiments, these processes, or portions thereof, may be implemented by or executed on a plurality of network computers, such as network computer 300 of FIG. 3. In yet other embodiments, these processes, or portions thereof, may be implemented by or executed on one or more virtualized computers, such as, those in a cloud-based environment. However, embodiments are not so limited and various combinations of network computers, client computers, or the like may be utilized. Further, in one or more of the various embodiments, the processes described in conjunction with FIGS. 10-15 may be used for correlating network traffic that crosses opaque endpoints in accordance with at least one of the various embodiments or architectures such as those described in conjunction with FIGS. 4-9. Further, in one or more of the various embodiments, some or all of the actions performed by processes 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, and, 1500 may be executed in part by network monitoring engine 322, correlation engine 324, modeling engine 326, or the like, running on one or more processors of one or more network computers.

FIG. 10 illustrates an overview flowchart of process 1000 for correlating network traffic that crosses opaque endpoints in accordance with one or more of the various embodiments. After a start block, at block 1002, in one or more of the various embodiments, NMCs may be arranged to monitor network traffic that may be associated with two or more network segments.

At block 1004, in one or more of the various embodiments, the NMCs may be arranged to determine one or more flows in the two or more network segments. In one or more of the various embodiments, monitored network traffic may be associated with network flows. In some embodiments, NMCs may be arranged to determine flows from among the monitored network traffic based on various characteristics of the network traffic. For example, in some embodiments, network flows may be determined based on a combination of tuple information, protocol information, or the like. In some embodiments, NMCs may be arranged to obtain the particular criteria for determining flows within monitored network traffic via configuration information.

At block 1006, in one or more of the various embodiments, the NMCs may be arranged to determine one or more correlated flows in the network segments. As described above, correlation engines may be employed to correlate network flows that may be in different network segments. In some embodiments, network monitoring engines may be arranged to generate flow profiles for determined flows based on the characteristics of the network traffic that may be associated with a given flow. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the flow profiles may be provided to correlation engines. In some embodiments, the correlation engines may be arranged to employ the flow profiles and one or more correlation models to generate correlation profiles that may indicate the amount of correlation among two or more flows.

At block 1008, in one or more of the various embodiments, the NMCs may be arranged to provide report information regarding the one or more correlated flows. In one or more of the various embodiments, NMCs may be arranged to provide correlation reports for a variety of uses. In some embodiments, NMCs may be configured to provide different report information depending on the type of flows, level of correlation between flows, or the like. For example, in some embodiments, some correlations may trigger an NMC to generate log records while other correlations may trigger the NMC to raise an alarm. In one or more of the various embodiments, NMCs may be arranged to determine the criteria for generating reporting information or what kind of report information to provide based on rules or instructions provided via configuration information.

Next, in one or more of the various embodiments, control may be returned to a calling process.

FIG. 11 illustrates a flowchart of process 1100 for correlating network traffic that crosses opaque endpoints in accordance with one or more of the various embodiments. After a start block, at block 1102, in one or more of the various embodiments, the NMCs may be arranged to determine one or more flows in one or more monitored network segments. As described above, monitoring network traffic is a core function of NMCs or other services. In some embodiments, some or all of the relevant network monitoring, network activity information, or activity/performance metrics may be provided by another service that may be separate from NMCs.

In one or more of the various embodiments, one or more NMCs may be arranged to monitor network traffic in more than one network segment. In some embodiments, a single NMC may be arranged to monitor network traffic occurring in two or more network segments. Likewise, in some embodiments, one or more NMCs may be arranged to monitor network traffic in separate network segments. In some embodiments, NMCs may be arranged to share monitoring information, configuration information, collected metrics, correlation models, flow profiles, correlation profiles, or the like.

At block 1104, in one or more of the various embodiments, the NMCs may be arranged to provide flow profiles that may be associated with the one or more flows. In one or more of the various embodiments, one or more NMCs may be arranged to generate flow profile for the monitored flows. In some embodiments, flow profiles may be associated with flows based on tuple information, or the like. In some embodiments, flow profiles may be maintained or updated for the like of a flow. In some embodiments, NMCs may be arranged to determine some or all of the metrics or fields to include flow profiles based on rules, or the like, provided via configuration information.

At block 1106, in one or more of the various embodiments, correlation engines may be arranged to determine one or more correlation models to employ for correlated the one or more flows. As described above, correlation models may be comprised of data structures, rules, instructions, or the like, that enable correlation models to provide correlation scores, confidence scores, or the like, that may be included in correlation profiles.

In one or more of the various embodiments, one or more correlation models may have restrictions based on input requirements, network configuration, traffic characteristics, or the like. Further, in one or more of the various embodiments, some correlation models may be arranged for correlation specific types of flows. For example, in some embodiments, some correlation models may be arranged for correlating encrypted flows while other may be arranged for correlation un-encrypted flows. Likewise, for example, some correlation models may be arranged for correlating transaction based flows rather than streaming flows, or the like.

Accordingly, in one or more of the various embodiments, correlation engines may be arranged to determine the relevant or qualified correlation models based on one or more of the characteristics of the flows, characteristics of the models, or the like. In some embodiments, correlation engines may be arranged to employ rules provided via configuration information for determine which correlation models to employ.

At block 1108, in one or more of the various embodiments, the correlation engines may be arranged to generate one or more correlation profiles based on the one or more correlation models or the one or more flow profiles. In one or more of the various embodiments, correlation engines may be arranged to employ the one or more determine correlation models to produce correlation profiles for the flows under consideration. As described above, correlation profiles may be comprised on one or more sub-parts that may be evaluated to contribute to a total correlation score. In some embodiments, correlation engines may be arranged to represent scores as discrete values or probability distributions.

Also, in one or more of the various embodiments, two or more correlation models may be employed to provide the correlation profiles. In some embodiments, each correlation model may contribute one or more values or parts to correlation profiles. In some embodiments, correlation engines may be arranged to weight the contribution of different correlation models based on various factors, including user feedback, training feedback, rules provided via configuration information, or the like.

At decision block 1110, in one or more of the various embodiments, if correlated flows may be discovered, control may flow to block 1112; otherwise, control may loop back block 1104. In one or more of the various embodiments, rules provided via configuration information may be employed to determine if a given correlation score should be considered relevant. In some embodiments, some of the scores included in a correlation profile may be discarded. For example, a correlation engines may be arranged to discard a highest score and a lower score to reduce outlier results skewing the overall correlation score.

At block 1112, in one or more of the various embodiments, the NMCs may be arranged to generate report information that may be associated with the correlation results. In some embodiments, NMCs may be arranged to generate report information that may include logs, notifications, or the like, that indicate if two or more flows may be correlated. In some embodiments, the particular type of report information as well as its format or destination may be determined using configuration information. For example, in some embodiments, configuration information may include a list of templates for providing log records associated with flow correlation.

Next, in one or more of the various embodiments, control may be returned to a calling process.

FIG. 12 illustrates a flowchart of process 1200 for correlating flows based on injected fingerprint information in accordance with one or more of the various embodiments. After a start block, at block 1202, in one or more of the various embodiments, NMCs may be arranged to determine two or more flows in the monitored network segments.

At block 1204, in one or more of the various embodiments, the NMCs may be arranged to inject fingerprint information into the two or more flows. In some embodiments fingerprint information may include known information, such as, keys, GUIDs, tokens, padding, non-operative (no-op) values included in fields or packets, or the like, or combination thereof. In some embodiments, the particular fingerprint information may depend on the communication protocol or application protocol associated with a given flow.

Accordingly, in some embodiments, NMCs may be arranged to determine the application or communication protocol of flows before injecting fingerprint information into a flow. In some embodiments, NMCs may be arranged to employ rules, instructions, filters, or the like, provided via configuration information to determine the particular fingerprint information to include in a flow. For example, in one or more of the various embodiments, configuration information may include rules defining the fingerprint information that may be automatically included in flow associated with a given application protocol.

In some embodiments, NMCs may be arranged to include one or more indicators in the flow profiles of flows that include the fingerprint information.

At block 1206, in one or more of the various embodiments, the NMCs may be arranged to monitor the two or more flows for the fingerprint information. In one or more of the various embodiments, flows may be monitored to determine if they include fingerprint information. In some embodiments, flows in one network segment may be injected with fingerprint information. As the flows pass through one or more edge or bridge devices, the source of the flows may be obscured. However, in some embodiments, some or all of the fingerprint information may be passed through the obscuring devices an included in flows in other network segments. Accordingly, in one or more of the various embodiments, NMCs may be arranged to monitor flows in one network segment to detect if they include fingerprint information that was added flows in other network segments.

Accordingly, in one or more of the various embodiments, NMCs may be arranged to apply various rules, patterns, filters, or the like, to detect fingerprint information that is known to have been included in flows from another network segment. In one or more of the various embodiments, the particular rules, patterns, filters, or the like, used for detecting fingerprint information may be provided via configuration information.

At decision block 1208, in one or more of the various embodiments, if the fingerprint information may be detected, control may flow to block 1210; otherwise, control may be returned to a calling process.

Accordingly, in one or more of the various embodiments, NMCs (or monitoring engines) may be arranged to include one or more values that may be associated with the likelihood that one or more flows may include injected fingerprint information. In some embodiments, such values may be represented as discrete scores, probability scores, probability distributions, or the like.

At block 1210, in one or more of the various embodiments, correlation engines may be arranged to correlate the two or more flows based on the fingerprint information. As described, above correlation engines may be arranged to employ one or more correlation models to provide correlation profiles for flows. In some embodiments, one or more correlation models may be arranged to evaluate finger information that may be included in flow profiles or otherwise associated with one or more flows of interest. For example, in some embodiments, one or more correlation models may include input parameters that may be associated finger information included in the flow profiles.

Next, in one or more of the various embodiments, control may be returned to a calling process.

FIG. 13 illustrates a flowchart of process 1300 for correlating flows based on injected timing patterns in accordance with one or more of the various embodiments. After a start block, at block 1302, in one or more of the various embodiments, NMCs may be arranged to determine two or more flows in the monitored network segments.

At block 1304, in one or more of the various embodiments, the NMCs may be arranged to inject timing patterns into the two or more flows. In one or more of the various embodiments, NMCs may be configured to determine the one or more endpoints that may be associated with the two or more flows.

In one or more of the various embodiments, the one or more NMCs may be arranged to modify one or more characteristics of the network traffic associated with the two or more flows to introduce latency or delays that may alter the behavior or of the two or more flows.

In some embodiments, some or all the modifications may be arranged such that the endpoints (e.g., clients or servers) are unaware of the modifications. Also, in one or more of the various embodiments, NMCs may be arranged to modify the network characteristics such that the selected flows may be impacted while the remainder of the flows may be unaffected.

Also, in one or more of the various embodiments, NMCs may be arranged to execute instructions to modify the network paths between the selected endpoints. in one or more of the various embodiments, NMCs may be arranged to issue commands to routers or routing services to generate temporary routing paths through the network that may introduce timing delays. In some embodiments, NMCs may be arranged to re-write network packets that may be associated with selected endpoints to change their routes though the network. Also, in some embodiments, NMCs may be arranged to modify the network traffic of selected endpoints to direct them to buffers that may capture and hold the traffic to introduce delay.

In one or more of the various embodiments, NMCs may be arranged to modify the flow profiles of one or more flows to include information associated with the timing changes. For example, in some embodiments, if latency is being introduced to a flows, information related to the introduced latency may be included in the flow profile.

At block 1306, in one or more of the various embodiments, the NMCs may be arranged to monitor the two or more flows for the timing patterns to include timing information in the flow profiles. In one or more of the various embodiments, NMCs may be arranged to watch for patterns in the network traffic associated with various flows that may correspond to the introduced timing patterns.

Accordingly, in one or more of the various embodiments, NMCs (or monitoring engines) may be arranged to include a value that is associated with the likelihood that one or more flows may have timing characteristics that may be associated with injected timing patterns. In some embodiments, such values may be represented as discrete scores, probability score, probability distributions, or the like.

At block 1308, in one or more of the various embodiments, correlation engines may be arranged to correlate the two or more flows based on the timing information included in the flow profiles. As described, above correlation engines may be arranged to employ one or more correlation models to provide correlation profiles for flows. In some embodiments, one or more correlation models may be arranged to compare timing information that may be included in a flow profile or otherwise associated with one or more flows of interest. For example, in some embodiments, one or more correlation models may include input parameters that may be associated timing information included in the flow profiles.

Next, in one or more of the various embodiments, control may be returned to a calling process.

FIG. 14 illustrates a flowchart of process 1400 for correlating control flows with related content flows in accordance with one or more of the various embodiments. After a start block, at block 1402, in one or more of the various embodiments, NMCs may be arranged to determine two or more flows in the monitored network segments. See, above for more details.

At block 1404, in one or more of the various embodiments, the NMCs may be arranged to determine one or more control flows. In one or more of the various embodiments, NMCs may be arranged to distinguish control flows from other kinds of flows. In some embodiments, control flows may be network flows that are associated with a multi-flow application that uses one or more flows for communicating control information and one or more other flows for communication content information.

In one or more of the various embodiments, often control flows may be used for setting up or configuring the content flows. Accordingly, in one or more of the various embodiments, there may be behavior patterns as well as protocol/application specific characteristics that may lend themselves distinguishing between control flows or other flows. Also, in some embodiments, control flows for different applications or application protocols may have distinct characteristics such that control flows for one application may be determined based on different criteria than other applications. In some embodiments, the control flow may establish sessions, relay commands between clients and servers, share configuration settings between clients or servers, or the like.

In some embodiments, NMCs may be arranged to employ patterns, templates, filters, metrics, or the like, that may defined via configuration information for determining if a network flow may be a control flow.

Accordingly, in one or more of the various embodiments, NMCs (or monitoring engines) may be arranged to include a value that is associated with the likelihood that one or more flows may be content flows. In some embodiments, such values may be represented as discrete scores, probability score, probability distributions, or the like.

At block 1406, in one or more of the various embodiments, the NMCs may be arranged to monitor network traffic for content flows. In one or more of the various embodiments, content flows may be flows dedicated to carrying content while one or more control flows manage or perform one or more control activities. In some embodiments, content flows may include streaming media, data streams, voice channels (for VOIP), or the like.

In some embodiments, NMCs may be arranged to employ patterns, templates, filters, metrics, or the like, that may be defined via configuration information for determining if a network flow may be a content flow.

Accordingly, in one or more of the various embodiments, NMCs (or monitoring engines) may be arranged to include a value that is associated with the likelihood that one or more flows may be content flows. In some embodiments, such values may be represented as discrete scores, probability scores, probability distributions, or the like.

At block 1408, in one or more of the various embodiments, correlation engines may be arranged to correlate the control flows with related stream flows. In one or more of the various embodiments, correlation engines may be arranged to employ one or more correlation models to determine correlation profiles for various flows that may be determined in monitored networks. As described above, correlation models may be arranged to apply various heuristics, Machine Learning models, rules, or the like, to generate correlation profiles based on one or more flow profiles. In some embodiments, one or more correlation models may be arranged to consider if two or more flows may be correlated based on whether they may be related control flows or content flows.

Next, in one or more of the various embodiments, control may be returned to a calling process.

FIG. 15 illustrates a flowchart of process 1500 for correlating control flows with based on transaction information in accordance with one or more of the various embodiments. After a start block, at block 1502, in one or more of the various embodiments, NMCs may be arranged to determine one or more transaction flows in the monitored network segments. In one or more of the various embodiments, transaction flows may be flows associated with one or more known or discovered transactions. As described above, in some embodiments, NMCs may be arranged include rules, patterns, filters, or the like, to identify flows that may be associated with one or more known applications. Accordingly, in some embodiments, NMCs may be arranged to include state machines, or the like, that enables NMCs to predict requests or responses that may be likely to occur. In some embodiments, NMCs may be configured to expect requests or responses for particular applications to have known characteristics. Accordingly, in one or more of the various embodiments, NMCs may monitor transaction characteristics of flows in one network segment and compare them to transaction characteristics of other flows in other network segments.

In one or more of the various embodiments, NMCs may be arranged to update flow profiles for one or more flows with information related to transactions. In some embodiments, the application protocol associated with a flow may infer one or more transaction characteristics based on the nature of the application.

In one or more of the various embodiments, specific transactions may be observable to NMCs. In some embodiments, NMCs may determine one or more features of a given transaction that may be observable across network segments. For example, in some embodiments, some applications may be known to include sequence numbers, tokens, credential information, or the like, that may be tracked across network segments.

Also, in one or more of the various embodiments, in cases where the content or payload of the transactions are unavailable, NMCs may be arranged to recognize traffic patterns that may be associated with transactions of various applications. For example, in some embodiments, clients communicating with databases often send query requests that may be relatively light weight such that they fit into one or two packets of network traffic. However, for example, the corresponding databases servers may send responses that may be comprised of many packets or network traffic.

At block 1504, in one or more of the various embodiments, the NMCs may be arranged to monitor one or more flows in other network segments. In one or more of the various embodiments, NMCs may be arranged to follow network traffic associated with transactions as they cross from one network segment to another network segment.

At decision block 1506, in one or more of the various embodiments, if the one or more transactions may be detected in other network segments; control may flow block 1508; other control may be returned to a calling process.

In some embodiments, in cases where the transaction information can be observed directly, NMCs may be arranged to determine the flows in different network segments that include the same transaction information.

In other cases, if the transaction information is obscured (e.g., encrypted), NMCs may be arranged to rely on network traffic shape information to predict if a flows may be associated with the same transaction.

At block 1508, in one or more of the various embodiments, correlation engines may be arranged to correlate the one or more transaction flows based on information associated with the detected transactions.

In one or more of the various embodiments, correlation engines may be arranged to employ one or more correlation models to determine correlation profiles for various flows that may be determined in monitored networks. As described above, correlation models may be arranged to apply various heuristics, machine learning models, rules, or the like, to generate correlation profiles based on one or more flow profiles. In some embodiments, one or more correlation models may be arranged to consider if two or more flows may be correlated based on whether the transaction characteristics, if any, that may be associated with flows.

Next, in one or more of the various embodiments, control may be returned to a calling process.

It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustration, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These program instructions may be provided to a processor to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute on the processor, create means for implementing the actions specified in the flowchart block or blocks. The computer program instructions may be executed by a processor to cause a series of operational steps to be performed by the processor to produce a computer-implemented process such that the instructions, which execute on the processor to provide steps for implementing the actions specified in the flowchart block or blocks. The computer program instructions may also cause at least some of the operational steps shown in the blocks of the flowchart to be performed in parallel. Moreover, some of the steps may also be performed across more than one processor, such as might arise in a multi-processor computer system. In addition, one or more blocks or combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustration may also be performed concurrently with other blocks or combinations of blocks, or even in a different sequence than illustrated without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

Accordingly, blocks of the flowchart illustration support combinations of means for performing the specified actions, combinations of steps for performing the specified actions and program instruction means for performing the specified actions. It will also be understood that each block of the flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware based systems, which perform the specified actions or steps, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions. The foregoing example should not be construed as limiting or exhaustive, but rather, an illustrative use case to show an implementation of at least one of the various embodiments of the invention.

Further, in one or more embodiments (not shown in the figures), the logic in the illustrative flowcharts may be executed using an embedded logic hardware device instead of a CPU, such as, an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), Programmable Array Logic (PAL), or the like, or combination thereof. The embedded logic hardware device may directly execute its embedded logic to perform actions. In one or more embodiments, a microcontroller may be arranged to directly execute its own embedded logic to perform actions and access its own internal memory and its own external Input and Output Interfaces (e.g., hardware pins or wireless transceivers) to perform actions, such as System On a Chip (SOC), or the like. 

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is:
 1. A method for monitoring network traffic using one or more network monitoring computers, comprising: monitoring two or more network segments that are coupled by one or more bridge devices, wherein the one or more bridge devices modify network traffic passed from one network segment to another network segment; determining one or more flows in one or more network segments based on network traffic associated with the one or more network segments; determining one or more other flows in one or more other network segments based on other network traffic associated with the one or more other network segments; providing a correlation score for two or more flows that are in different network segments based on one or more of a correlation model, a characteristic of the one or more flows, or another characteristic of the one or more other flows; modifying one or more timing characteristics associated with the one or more flows in the one or more network segments; determining the one or more other flows in the one or more other network segments based on the one or more timing characteristics; updating the correlation score for the two or more flows based on the timing characteristics; determining two or more related flows based on a value of the correlation score of the two or more related flows, wherein the two or more related flows are located in different network segments; and providing a report that includes information about the two or more related flows. 